A Long Obedience: Rooted-ness

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?

insidetheshrink-dailygrace

Our church held a Renovare Essentials conference a week ago.  One of the perils of conferences and retreats is the return home from them.  Suddenly everything is back to normal and all the new thoughts seem almost unreal in the face of everyday life.  What can I do with the hope I may have acquired during my time away?  How can I deal with the return home?

Eugene Peterson wrote a book called A Long Obedience in the Same Direction.  Even just looking at the title, I begin to suspect that change might not come as quickly as the hopeful feelings for change.  Inspiration is indispensable.  Without it, change becomes impossible.  The problem is that hope that is disappointed too often falls into cynicism and despair.  So inspiration must take root and become endurance if change is to occur.

Should I be surprised that the opening lines to Peterson's book are, "This world is no friend of grace."  (15)  This is not to be merely down-faced and negative, but a real assessment of our situation.  When I arrive home or even as I drive there I find out quickly that "the spiritual atmosphere in which we live erodes faith,, dissipates hope and corrupts love, but it is hard to put our finger on what is wrong."  (ibid)  This is not meant to disperse inspiration and hope, but to encourage them to "hunker down" for some long days of mundane work and even opposition.

Another quote from the book captures the main illness of our day: "Everyone is in a hurry."  (17)  Instead of expecting that my relationship with God should be like "Google" search or a pop tart, I need some other ways of understanding why hurry and growing in faith have little to do with each other.  As long as my faith and practice are "understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when [I] have adequate leisure," (16) I will find the hope and excitement of walking with God too time consuming and even tedious.

NEW IMAGES FOR LIVING LIFE

Peterson recommends, "For recognizing and resisting the stream of the world's ways there are two biblical designations for people of faith that are extremely useful: disciple and pilgrim."  (17)  Both of these images require a "rooted-ness" which makes war on hurry in my life.  A disciple is rooted in a learning relationship where "we do not [merely] acquire information about God but skills in faith."  (ibid)  Jesus did not come to satisfy my curiosity, but comes to show me how I might live well and fully.

The pilgrim is rooted in a journey.  He cannot stay in one place for long, but is always moving, not in a frantic or worried way, but in a deliberate and hopeful way.  This world is not my home.  Jesus is himself the only way to get home.  Not only by his death, nor just by his teaching, but in a continuing conversational relationship with him on the way.

Jesus warned about the danger of inspiration without rooted-ness.  "The one that received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away."  (Matthew 13:20-21)  How often I have heard this and only thought of persecution because of the word and not the trouble!  "This world is no friend of grace."  Following Jesus as a disciple or pilgrim is full of trouble not because Jesus is a troublesome person, but because the people and human systems we are part of oppose the life he gives.  The seed is good, but the soil needs work.

The images of disciple and pilgrim can place my feet on the path of long obedience.  As with any training or adventure, deliberate planning is necessary.  There will be work.  Everything worthwhile demands it.  It need not be tedious or worrisome, however.  If Jesus keeps his promises, then the life I live in long obedience will be an escape from being weary and heavily-burdened into a partnership with him where he does all the heavy lifting.  (Matthew 11:28-29)

Lord, may my obedience be long and my worry short.  Take my hand for this journey.  Instruct me in living.  I want to leave behind what this world promises as "the good life" and learn from you as my gentle and humble teacher and friend what the good life really is.  Amen.

Traditionally, followers of Jesus find it necessary to adopt a "rule" or a planned way of living in order to remain rooted.  A rule brings my daily life into Jesus's presence.  Regular prayer, self-denial, Bible reading and study, service to others, are some ways I have found God in my life and remained near to him.